From the Smithsonian Channel / Video
What Was on the Menu at the First Thanksgiving?
Follow us to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, where the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag came together for a historic feast.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Is One of America’s Greatest National Monuments
Lonnie Bunch, the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, discusses the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial, one of America’s greatest monuments.
This WW2 RAF Bomber Dealt a Deathblow to the German Economy
In WW2, the British made destroying German dams a key strategic target in order to kneecap the German industrial effort. To accomplish this, they needed a special plane to deliver …
This Object in History: Elmo’s Rise to Stardom
With his bright red coat, big orange nose, and wide eyes, Elmo is arguably the most famous of the Sesame Street muppets–but he didn’t always have it this good. Elmo …
This Object in History: F-14 Tomcat
From This Object in History, aired on @SmithsonianChannel
A Fascinating Structure Inside Ancient Tomb: “False Door” to the Underworld
Archaeologists uncover an exciting find: a tomb that predates most of the others in the area by around 2,000 years. Inside, is a series of perfectly preserved inscriptions on a …
The Ancient Greeks Became Fascinated with Ancient Egypt
Ancient Greeks were endlessly fascinated by Egyptian culture, and especially the Egyptian Gods whom they saw as versions of their own. So much so that they ended up adopting Egyptian …
X-Ray of an Ancient Mummy Reveals Details of Noblewoman’s Life
X-rays of the mummy of an ancient Egyptian noblewoman reveal an assortment of health issues: from curvature of the spine, known as scoliosis, to other deformities that could be the …
Denali Has One of the Deepest Canyons in the World
Ruth Glacier’s Great Gorge is quite simply one of the continent’s most awe-inspiring sights. At 2,000 feet and over ten miles long, it’s one of the deepest canyons in the …
How the Meaning of Thanksgiving Has Changed
The holiday was used as a call for freedom during the civil rights movement and as a day of mourning by Native Americans.
This Truffle Dog Is Facing a Really Challenging Truffle Hunt
Lola, a Lagotto Romagnolo trained to sniff out and dig up black truffles in her native Washington, is ready for a challenge: to find truffles out of season on a …
A Coffin Is Unearthed Using Ancient Egyptian Tech
Archaeologists in Saqqara make a dazzling discovery: a late period Egyptian coffin with a gilded mask. Now, to bring it to the surface, they use a pulley known as a …
What It Was Like to Be Gay During WWII
In the early 20th century, the medical establishment became fixated with the idea that LGBTQ people could be “cured.” To achieve this, they turned to a litany of brutal practices, …
Cornwall, the Most Beautiful Place in Britain
One of the most evocative and breathtakingly beautiful coastal landscapes in Britain is the historic county of Cornwall. It’s also a place steeped in legend, including that of Britain’s legendary …
Scotland’s Most Mysterious Stone Age Settlements
The Orkneys, an archipelago of islands off the northern coast of Scotland, are home to some of the greatest neolithic treasures in western Europe: from the settlement of Skara Brae …
Was a Jamestown Governor the Father of U.S. Democracy?
In 1619, George Yeardley, the newly appointed governor of Jamestown, made history: He convened 22 elected members of a burgeoning commonwealth, creating the first democratic assembly in America.
Stratford-upon-Avon Is a Magnet for Shakespeare Lovers
To soar over Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire is to be transported back in time to the age of William Shakespeare, a man born in humble circumstances who would go on to …
Thomas Cromwell: Henry VIII’s Partner in Crime
In 1536, Thomas Cromwell spotted an opportunity to enrich his master, Henry VIII, and further increase his own standing: the dissolution of the monasteries and claiming their wealth for the …
How the Titanic Sinking Became Fake News
Hours after the Titanic sank, news organizations latched onto a telegraph message that seemed to say that the ship and all its passengers had been rescued. It would turn out …
An incredible trove of archaeological artifacts has been unearthed once again at Saqqara—including 100 coffins, and incredibly rare statues dating back 4,500 years.
How Neil Armstrong Saved the Gemini 8 Spacecraft
Gemini 8 was in trouble. After completing the first space docking with another craft, it begins to spin uncontrollably. Ditching protocol, commanding officer Neil Armstrong tries an unorthodox plan.
This 5,000-Year-Old Tomb Is Spectacularly Preserved
Despite the fact that it’s over 5,000 years old, Maeshowe, Orkney’s answer to Stonehenge, is in amazing shape. But why did Neolithic Britons go to such great lengths to build …
These Mesmerizing Carvings Tell a Mysterious Tribe’s Story
Clues into the disappearance of the ancient Picts lie in the tiny Scottish village of Aberlemno: 1,700-year-old Pictish stones, marked with some very unusual carvings.
How Lizzie Borden Became the Main Suspect in Her Family’s Murder
How did a god fearing church-goer like Lizzie Borden become a suspect in the gruesome crime of the century? Her inconsistent account, and an eerie nonchalance, immediately damaged her credibility …
The Architect of Notre Dame’s Astounding Football Success
Under exuberant coach, Knute Rockne, Notre Dame set the standards for football excellence. But off the field, the Fighting Irish was a PR sensation, capturing the hearts of a riveted …
Thomas Edison’s Stunning Footage of the Klondike Gold Rush
In 1896, Thomas Edison set off to a remote Canadian district near the Alaska border, with cameras in tow. He succeeded in capturing fascinating images of the prospectors brought in …
Fannie Lou Hamer Risked Her Life for the Right to Vote
Fannie Lou Hamer, a voting rights activist, suffered unspeakable violence and intimidation at the hands of white supremacists and police. Her response: to elevate her cause by launching a long-shot …
This Church Has an Eerie Visual Record of the Black Death
The Black Death of 1348 was a devastating event, wiping out half the population of Britain. And in churches like this one, drawings on the wall provide a haunting visual …
There’s a Limit to the Comfort Level of NASA Space Suits
The space suits used by the astronauts on Gemini 7, known as grasshopper suits, were designed for comfort. But after two weeks inside them, that was the last thing on …
This British Castle Still Has a Functioning Flour Mill
In the 19th century, there was a watermill almost every mile of the river, such was the huge demand for flour and bread. Today, Eastnor castle’s own mill is still …
How Conservative Groups’ Protest Led to an Era of Hollywood Censorship
It’s 1933 and Mae West is just arriving at Grauman’s Chinese Theater for the premiere of I’m No Angel. It draws fans from all over the country—as well as an …
This Woman Manages America’s Oldest Lighthouse
Boston’s iconic lighthouse, the Boston Light, is managed by a single person: Sally Snowman. She is the 70th keeper of the lighthouse since it was built over 300 years ago.
Page 1 of 3